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Updated at 1:15 on Dec. 22: Read Rachel Mehlhaff’s complete story in today’s Denton Record-Chronicle. It includes a copy of the letter regents sent to Ransom.

Updated at 6:15 p.m.: A spokeswoman for Ransom said he was notified Tuesday of his pending termination. “The process is certainly something that we think was extraordinarily unfair, and he is going to be appealing this process,” said Nancy Sterling of M.L. Strategies. She said she couldn’t discuss the reason for his sudden dismissal. “We will be discussing that in the coming days,” she said.

A letter from the board of regents chairman alleged that Ransom worked to undermine a proposed merger of the Health Science Center with the flagship Denton campus.

Updated at 2:10 p.m.: I obtained a copy of Ransom’s employment contract. On Sept. 1 this year, regents extended his contract through August 2015. And now, less than four months later, they fire him.

Updated at 12:43 p.m.: The regents fired Ransom. No word yet on why. Ransom declined to comment. Regents are now talking about an interim.

This is the second change in leadership at a UNT System campus to be announced this year. In July, UNT-Dallas president John Ellis Price said he’d step down next year.

Updated at 11:18 a.m., Dec. 21: Regents are still meeting in closed session, Rachel Mehlhaff of the Denton Record-Chronicle reports. “Ransom just came out from talking to them and said he had no comment,” she said. We’ll keep you posted.

Original item: When University of North Texas System regents meet at 10 a.m. today, they’re scheduled to discuss personnel matters related to UNT Health Science Center President Scott Ransom (pictured), “including the possible termination of his employment agreement.”

Also on the special meeting’s agenda: personnel matters “related to the appointment of an interim president.”

Tim Doke, a spokesman for the Health Science Center, referred questions to UNT System. “It would not be appropriate for the UNT Health Science Center to comment on issues pending before the board of regents,” he said. I’m waiting to hear back from someone at System offices to find out more.

Ransom has been president of the Health Science Center since 2006. As of 2011, he was making $904,562, according to the state Legislative Budget Board.

A few months ago, System Chancellor Lee Jackson encouraged regents to study whether to merge the Health Science Center in Fort Worth with the flagship UNT campus in Denton. Jackson said joining forces could bolster the academic reputation of both schools and draw more research funding and qualified faculty members. But the idea never gained traction. Jackson cited a lack of consensus among university leaders.